Patriots vs. Colts preseason opener: The New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on Thursday; kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET. Watch the preseason opener locally on WBZ and listen on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Several starters, including Drake Maye, are expected to be held out as the team protects core players and evaluates depth.
By Patriots Report staff. Reporting drawn from Conor Ryan, Boston.com.
Patriots vs. Colts preseason opener — How to watch and listen
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA.
Television: Local preseason broadcast on WBZ.
Radio: Live coverage on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Streaming and alternate streams for preseason games vary by market and station; check WBZ and the Patriots’ official channels for local stream information and any blackout restrictions.
Player availability & injuries
The Patriots are expected to limit work for several starters in tonight’s preseason opener as they prioritize player-health and evaluation during the exhibition slate. Per reporting, Drake Maye is not expected to play significant snaps in this game. That aligns with the team’s common preseason approach to protect primary signal-callers from unnecessary contact.
Running back Terrell Jennings has been placed on season-ending injured reserve, creating a vacancy behind the top two backs and increasing the importance of preseason reps for depth candidates. New arrival A.J. Brown was present in Foxborough but is also expected to sit out of meaningful game action as part of the same precautionary usage of starters and new starters; for early practice context on Brown’s Patriots debut, see the team OTA coverage: Brown First Day OTA Practice Patriots.
Coach Mike Vrabel has repeatedly signaled cautious preseason usage of first-unit players; for the coach’s comments on rotation and player evaluation, see the team press availability notes: Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6 9.
Who to watch among backups
- Tommy DeVito — Expected to take the bulk of early backup quarterback reps; a clear candidate to show pocket command and timing against Colts backups.
- Behren Morton — Projected to share quarterback snaps with DeVito and demonstrate mobility and progression reads in live-game situations.
- JaMychal Hasty — With Terrell Jennings on IR, Hasty is a name to watch for immediate snaps on offense and special-teams contributions as the Patriots sort the RB depth chart.
These short one-sentence notes reflect the reporting and the preseason emphasis on giving meaningful reps to reserve players; use caution when interpreting performance as predictive of regular-season roles.
Practice and prep notes from Foxborough
The Patriots and Colts held joint practices at the New Balance Athletics Center earlier in the week, giving both teams a controlled live-scrimmage environment heading into tonight’s game. Local coverage and team social posts captured arrival photos, warmups at Gillette and select practice snaps that suggest the Patriots planned a clear split between protected first-team work and extended backup reps.
Reporters on site noted limited full-contact reps for starters in the joint sessions; the practice pattern and staff comments point to a game plan that prioritizes evaluation for depth players while minimizing injury risk for projected regulars.
Why this matters
Preseason games like this are the practical testing ground for depth, special-teams candidates and fringe roster players. Tonight’s game will help the Patriots’ staff evaluate who can step into larger roles in short-yardage, passing-down and special-teams situations — especially with Terrell Jennings on IR and the team limiting work for top-line starters.
Keep expectations measured: preseason performance provides useful tape but does not guarantee a roster spot. The coaching staff’s decisions during the next two weeks of practices and remaining preseason games, plus medical designations, will ultimately shape the final 53-man roster.
For follow-up injury updates and roster moves, monitor Patriots Report coverage and the Boston.com report by Conor Ryan for the source updates that informed this story.
Source: Conor Ryan, Boston.com — Patriots vs. Colts live coverage. This article was produced by Patriots Report staff and is based on the referenced reporting. Availability projections are subject to change before kickoff.
